I Am That Mom: Wynne

In case you're just now tuning in, we are entering week two of mom's from all over sharing their hearts, quirks, and all around thoughts on motherhood, as I am a firm believer in the idea that there is so much we can learn from each other. 

Here's what you might have missed last week: 

Monday- Heather

Tuesday- Audra

Wednesday- Shannon

Thursday- Amber

Friday- Ashley

Saturday-Emily

Sunday- Ashley

And now onto today. This mom's story is really close to my heart, as I prayed for these babies to come home for months! She is one of the most inspiring people I know. She's also how I found out about Noonday! That alone is worth a big, fat THANK YOU, WYNNE!

My name is Wynne [I blog over at Gloriously Ruined] and this is my beautiful family!  My husband of 6+ years, Stephen and our two babes: Camp [1] and Asher [almost 1].  We've been home from Ethiopia about 3.5 months!  Yes, we went from 0-2 kids all at once!  and although they aren't biologically twins/or related, they basically are twins.  We are so so in love with them and I am LOVING the #momlife.  

all those cheesy things people said about "when you have kids" are true.  Even though I've never been much of a "baby person", I am with them.  I don't remember what my life was like before them.  I do hear them when they cry [most of the time].  and my motherly instincts have kicked in [despite not reading any parenting books besides adoption books]...

I remember the first few weeks of being their momma, I kept saying "man, this parenting thing is no joke!" and it IS no joke.  it's a full time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week job.  but it's the aboslute best job I've ever had.  I remember when we were in the transition home in Addis, I looked at Camp and just simply said, "this is the BEST job".  and it is.  and that's saying a lot from me - I love to work!  I have had more jobs than maybe anyone you know, I've started businesses, gone to the conferences + bought the tshirt ;) ha.  but being a mom, although it's hard/stressful/exhausting/and reminds you of how selfish you actually are...is the BEST thing.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  and I guess that's a good thing, since the # of kids my husband wants keeps going up....

like any mom, I am far from perfect.

I don't have it all together, and I don't even act like it [or at least I don't think I do]

being a new mom of not one, but TWO kiddos is sometimes challenging.

we always have stories to tell when daddy gets home...

like this week.

I am that mom that just realized today that her son's toenails were curling over and digging into his skin....

I am that mom that watched in slow motion her daughter do a front flip over my leg off the couch to retrieve her bottle.  [told ya the 2 kids thing was sometimes hard]

and I could really go on....

but I am also that mom...

that loves her kids fiercely

that tells them every single day how beautiful they are and how much I love them

that sings songs + kisses checks until they know the songs and their checks are raw

that takes them on walks, plays music with them, teaches them about jesus every day

and as for any new mom advice.....

I think something that's really helped me is not comparing myself to other moms, or not comparing my kids to their kids.

I had to do that before they came home, make up my mind I mean.  I knew that they wouldn't be "doing" the things "normal" american born and breed kids would be doing and I'm ok with that.  I'm committed to walking with them every step of the way.  but I didn't want to feel bad or defeated about it.  so I let it go - I don't read development emails/books, I don't even know where they are on the scale for their height/weight/etc.  and I've found so much freedom from that!

be you.

be the mom Jesus made YOU to be.

don't be someone else - He made you for YOUR kids.

isn't that awesome?

happy mothering, yall!

*Again, if you want to watch Wynne's precious kiddos grow and learn more about she's working to be a change in this world,  you can follow her story here. *